News
Reporting on fraud, review manipulation, misleading information and the work of protecting consumers and honest businesses.
725 articles
KwikChex member Medieval Lodge in Hastings, UK today had a fake review removed from their TripAdvisor profile after the BBC reported the distress and damage being caused on their flagship breakfast news programme. KwikChex has traced the person responsible and is considering further action. Watch the BBC news clip. Fur
Voyager’s World, Bangalore, India – December 2011 Is that Review Genuine? The reviews on travel review websites look good and glowing. But how trustworthy are such reviews? Firoz Fazil finds out. Excerpts from article: “If you start with the fact that there is no verification process – not even to confirm that is a gen
Firms fall victim to fake web reviews Click here to view video (originally shown on BBC News at Six 03/11/2011) Plus related article on BBC News Website: Google removes ‘paedophile’ claim on review website Credits: BBC News By Claire Marshall BBC News Midlands correspondent "A business owner accused in a Google r
"(Reuters.com) – TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site with 20 million members, has completed its spin-off from travel website operator Expedia." "UK reputation management firm KwikChex would take umbrage with the term ‘authentic review’; a non-transactional site, there’s no guarantee that people who revie
Credits: Tnooz By: Chris Emmins, chief executive of KwikChex "When KwikChex first started publicly challenging TripAdvisor, many were concerned it was an attempt to suppress freedom of speech. Some had the impression that it was being driven by sub-standard businesses which simply couldn’t take criticism. On both accou
Credits: The Telegraph By: Emma Barnett "Companies need to plan social media communication with the same level of thought, crisis management and craftsmanship as a traditional advertising campaign." "Brands must learn from Qantas-esque mistakes when marketing themselves online and cleverly engage with reviewers. Social
TripAdvisor reviews – confusing, contradictory, coercion and blackmail. Featuring KwikChex. Click here to listen
Bad Online Reviews or Blackmail? Companies are complaining that review websites are being used to blackmail them… Featuring KwikChex. Click here to listen (Chapter 2)
Credits: The Telegraph – Travel "Guests are attempting to blackmail hotels and businesses into paying hundreds of pounds by threatening to write bad reviews on the online site TripAdvisor, it has been reported. " "TripAdvisor carries more the reviews which it claims are honest, reliable and written by “real trave
The Times has reported on cases brought to their attention by KwikChex that involve coercing business owners by threatening to publish comments on TripAdvisor. The article features three businesses that have recently come to KwikChex for assistance. KwikChex can confirm that they have started actions on their behalf an
Credits: Mail Online By: Sophie Freeman "Hotel guests are using the threat of a bad review on Tripadvisor to blackmail owners into paying hundreds of pounds ‘compensation’ – even when there was nothing wrong with their stay." "Last month, MailOnline reported that hotel owner Deborah Sinclair was taking lega
We can confirm that we have been notified that the ASA have completed their investigation into the complaint regarding misleading statements by TripAdvisor, but that it is currently protected under confidentiality agreements and no announcement will be made until the ASA Council have met to consider the recommendations
